The voice
of the Lord
is upon
the waters;
The God
of glory
thunders,
the Lord,
upon many waters.
[Psalm 29:3]
*********************
"Hey, LORD?"

"What is it,
My child?"

(Mouth agape.)
"Huh?
I thought You weren't
gonna be TALKIN' to me!"

[PATIENT NOD.]
"Why, precious one?"

(Squirm.)
"Well......first of all:
all that bad stuff I said
about You, tonight."

[NODDING.]

"I mean, it was stuff I
said about You, TO You.
(More Squirming.)
So, it wasn't like I was
gossiping, or anything."

[BURST OUT LAUGHING!]
"No, My child!"

"Hey, LORD?
When are You gonna
lower these GAS PRICES?"

[PATIENT SIGH.]
"Who AM I, child?"

"Eh........I dunno.
(Frown.)
(Squint.)
When I was a little Jewish kid,
You were the One in the
Burning Bush.
(Thoughtful pause.)
And......You were the One
Who helped Charlton Heston
part the Red Sea."

[CHUCKLE.]
[NOD.]

"But, all these Christians
say You're, like, in
control of EVERYTHING!"

"Was I not then, child?"

"You mean: with CHARLTON
HESTON?
(Squint.)
Uh, uh.
I mean, the Rea Sea's not
in America! I figured You
were just in charge on the
other side of the Atlantic:
Ya know: like, in Egypt
and stuff."

[SMILE.]
"Ah.
I see."

"SO?
What about it, Lord?
Are Ya gonna fix the
GAS PRICES?"

[SILENCE.]

"I don't UNDERSTAND,
Lord! They SAY.......!"

"WHO says, child?"

"These CHRISTIANS!"

[NOD.]
"Ah.
[SMILE.]
And what are you,
My child?"

"A Northwest Philly JEW?"

[CHUCKLE!]

"You're skirting the
ISSUE, Lord!
Who CARES about what I am?
(Frown up at air vent.)
WELL?
What ABOUT it?"

[INDIGESTIVE SILENCE.]

"AW!
COME ON, LORD!
You GOTTA HELP!
These prices are
KILLIN' us!"

"Wait, child."

(Kvetchy frown.)
"Wait for WHAT?
NEW YEARS?"

[GENTLE NOD.]
"Perhaps, My child."

(Snort!)
"Well, HECK!
They say the price is gonna
be up to TEN DOLLARS,
by THEN!"

"WHO says, child?"

"Huh?
Eh......I dunno;
Ya know: those eh........
gas know-it-all guys.
(Smile!)
Not the Christians;
they don't know anymore
about the gas, than I DO.
(Laugh!)
Well....they know about GAS;
I guess You could say the
gas prices are GIVING us GAS?"